Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2015 i Gardens Illustrated Magazine

Discovering plants that will give your garden a triumphant blast of colour before winter really takes hold is fairly easy. There are numerous books on the subject and of course the internet, which always throws up plenty of ideas. However, to find out which are the very best plants, you can’t beat personal recommendations, particularly if it’s from a highly regarded nurseryman such as Hans Kramer. Hans describes ten of his seasonal favourites on page 22, and we also visit some wonderful private gardens (in Belgium, the Netherlands and New Zealand on pages 72, 42 and 34 respectively) for further inspiration. I’ve been looking for a good tree for my front garden for some time now and am determined to plant one this winter. I’ve been faffing around, undecided, for…

The fertile Rhine river valley cuts between the Vosges Mountains and the Black Forest and forms a natural border between France, Switzerland and the southwesterly corner of Germany, sometimes referred to as the ‘Tuscany of Germany. On this trip we travel northwards, weaving between France and Germany, over an area that’s home to a surprisingly rich selection of gardens. Your five-day tour includes a visit to Landhaus Ettenbühl, renowned for its roses, where you will be joined at lunch by the owner and head gardener. You’ll also travel into the Vosges Mountains to visit Jardin d’altitude du Haut Chitelet, which features lovely alpine planting. At this time of year the wild flowers of the region should also be at their peak, making a visit to the mountains particularly memorable. Nearby…

Euonymus hamiltonianus subsp. sieboldianus I was completely dumbstruck when I first saw this fabulous shrub one dull November Sunday at the Belmonte Arboretum in Wageningen. It lit up that day with its yellow-orange autumn foliage and its glowing pink fruits. I took a handful of those fruits home and to this day its offspring still gives me pleasure until deep into winter. When there is no snow and the birds have enough to eat, the fruits can remain on the tree until January. In the past I’ve put more than one seedling in the same planting hole, with the idea that the different clones would pollinate each other and give an even heavier fruit crop. Just be aware of spacing though, as in ten years this shrub can grow to…

Earliest gardening memory Playing in the carrot field on our farm. Have you always been a gardener? I studied social anthropology at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London. It seemed like a big leap to become a farmer but actually farming is all about people and communities, especially on smaller-scale, mixed farms. Who are your horticultural heroes The people who pick our food by hand. In lots of places this is one crop all day for very little pay. It’s very hard work and is often undervalued. Favourite landscape I spent a lot of time playing on the farm where I grew up so I had a strong relationship with the place. This is probably why I wanted my career to involve building a relationship with a piece…

1 Liriope muscari Evergreen tuberous perennial, with fresh-green leaves and violet-lavender flowers in late summer and early autumn. Requires moderately fertile soil and partial shade, and is drought-tolerant. 40cm. AGM*. RHS H5, USDA 6a-10b† . 2 Parthenocissus quinquefolia Extremely vigorous deciduous climber that grows at an incredible speed. Will grow absolutely anywhere, from full sun to full shade on a north- or south-facing wall, and in any soil, Also has a high tolerance for pollution. 30m. RHS H7, USDA 3a-9b. 3 Eupatorium maculatum Atropurpureum Group This herbaceous perennial, is perfect for the dappled shade of a woodland garden. Will grow in any moist, well-drained soil. Easy to divide in spring or autumn. 1.5m. RHS H6, USDA 5a-10b. 4 Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea Mainly grown for its gorgeous purple-burgundy foliage, with…

In brief What A range of small, deciduous trees that are suitable for planting in front gardens. Origins Many of the trees featured originate in Asia, although some are European natives. Size All but one of the trees are under 12m in height with a relatively narrow crown. Many are much smaller, some as small as 4m, and some can be grown as shrubs. Season All the trees have been chosen for their long season of interest. Over the past few decades, trees have been disappearing from the UK’s front gardens. More and more people are now removing plants and paving over their lawns in order to create or extend driveways for the ever-growing fleets of family cars. The average suburban front garden now has considerably less space left for…

When out hiking in California State Parks, such as Mount Diablo, 50 miles east of San Francisco, artist Aimee Baldwin will pause often. Not to rest or to admire the views, but to crouch down and sprawl in the gravel to get as close as she can to inspect a wild flower. The plant may be only 2cm high and barely peeking through the ground but Aimee will spy it from a distance. It might be Fritillaria or Trillium, Dichelostemma or Mimulus – some of Aimee’s favourites. On occasion she might linger to take some notes or a picture of the plant, which she’ll use back home in her studio in Berkeley, where she dedicates hours to crafting 3D models of these plants in paper. “It’s like a treasure hunt,”…

It’s easy to think of shade as being difficult and unrewarding, it’s dark, there are few flowers in the summer months and only the toughest plants survive. Yet some of the most intimate moments of natural theatre are in shady environments; in bluebell woods before the canopy of leaves unfurl; behind a waterfall where intricate ferns and liverworts glisten in cool, misty low light; or the reflective rainwater pools within the dimples of mossy tree roots. In the garden, variations in light levels extend the dynamic range from full sun to the shadiest hollow, adding mystery and depth. The limited palette of plants suited to shady conditions forces a designer to embrace the idea of ‘less is more’; fewer species but in greater numbers. This gives shady places a strong…

FERN VERROW: RECIPES FROM THE FARM KITCHEN By Jane Scotter and Harry Astley, photography by Tessa Traeger Quadrille, £25 ISBN 978-1849495462 A year of delicious and nutritious recipes from a biodynamic farm. OFFER PRICE £22.50 THE MAN WHO MADE THINGS OUT OF TREES By Robert Penn Particular Books, £16.99 ISBN 978-1846148422 The tale of a man’s epic journey to discover the value of things crafted by hand and made to last. OFFER PRICE £14.99 COMMON GROUND By Rob Cowen Hutchinson, £16.99 ISBN 978-0091954550 A personal account of Cowen’s encounters with nature and his enlightening experiences within it. OFFER PRICE £14.99 THERAPEUTIC GARDENS: DESIGN FOR HEALING SPACES By Daniel Winterbottom and Amy Wagenfeld Timber Press, £30 ISBN 978-1604694420 A practical guide that demonstrates the supportive role of green space. BOOK OFFER…

• Plants to brighten winter days • Our guide to choosing and storing fire wood • Must-have books for serious gardeners • Create your own botanical advent calendar • Gorgeous gifts for gardeners • Bring some twinkle to your garden this winter with our guide to lighting ON SALE 11 NOVEMBER Save money when you subscribe to the digital edition – see page 32. Also in selected Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Tesco stores, as well as WHSmith, and all good magazine retailers.…

In the summer the most beautiful moments are in the morning and the evening, when the angle of the sun is low and everything is lit horizontally. Photographers call it magic light, and it is why you will find them up early or out late, retiring in the flat light of midday to lunch with their models. Lit from the side the opaque becomes transparent and the dull takes on a glow as golden particles in the atmosphere are revealed. It is the best time to be in a garden and looking. No one looks forward to November; it is the month of death and, you would think, the reverse of gilded summer evenings. But now, long past the equinox and far north of the tropic, with the leaves cleaned…

CHARLES DOWDING A modern pioneer of no-dig, organic growing, Charles crops an intensive quarter acre for sales of salad leaves and vegetables. Winter harvests are one of his specialities and on page 66 he and Stephanie Hafferty show us how to grow and prepare excellent food. “Planning is essential to reap the benefits of a winter harvest – it’s important to start planning now for next year’s crop” CHRISTINE REID Christine is a garden writer who has recently moved to a new garden in the cool hills, north of Melbourne, Australia. Although the blank canvas is more of a challenge than she anticipated, she finds it an exciting learning curve. On page 34 she visits the New Zealand garden, Ohinetahi. “My visit to New Zealand to meet Sir Miles Warren…

Hot house party At this time of year, I often bring orchids in from the greenhouse to add a dash of exotic colour. When I do, I find it’s more decorative and practical to display them in a watertight container than in a pot with drainage holes. This majolica jardinière is the perfect host. Its blue base fades into turquoise and if more blue were lost from the turquoise glaze it would become green, so the smart green orchid foliage makes a comfortable progression. How to achieve the look One of the trickiest aspects of combining orchids is that different orchids like different temperatures and light levels, so I’ll use them in the main house or conservatory only for temporary weekend displays. Arching out on long sprays is x Colmanara…

Throughout winter in my garden in Somerset, I pick Brussels sprouts, kale, leek, swede and parsnip, and in mild weather there are leaves of land cress, mustards, salad rocket and spinach. I work on a quarter acre of undug, surface-composted beds and sell freshly harvested salad leaves and vegetables to local shops and restaurants all year round, and also use the garden for teaching courses. To get the most from my plot, I need to plan carefully and now is the best time to work out what and when to crop. Vegetables are hungry plants so it’s important to keep your soil fertile. Weed your plot thoroughly (or mulch with cardboard if weeds are thick), then feed your soil by spreading a 3-5cm layer of well-composted organic matter on the…

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1 THE BETH CHATTO GARDENS The gift-giving season is approaching! Gift vouchers for £5, £10, £20 and £50 are available, plus annual memberships from just £20 to the world renowned Beth Chatto Gardens, Nursery, Tearoom and Shop. Come to the Christmas Craft Fayre on 28 and 29 November, 10–4pm. Address Elmstead Market, Colchester, CO7 7DB Tel 01206 822007 Web bethchatto.co.uk 2 OSTERLEY PARK AND HOUSE Osterley Park and House is one of the last surviving country estates in London. Open all year and only a short distance from the big city, don’t miss the elegant flower gardens and vibrant colours of the ornamental vegetable garden. Address Jersey Rd, Isleworth, Middlesex, TW7 4RB Tel 020 8232 5050 Web nationaltrust.org.uk/osterley-park 3 CHELSEA PHYSIC GARDEN Visit Chelsea Physic Garden as the seasons change…

The 15th director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is no stranger to controversy. After all, Richard Deverell was head of children’s programmes at the BBC through a media storm over the fraudulent naming of a Blue Peter kitten. Yet when he took up the directorship at Kew in May 2012, the botanic garden was facing a financial crisis that threatened its very identity. He knew taking over the helm would come with its challenges. “For 170 years of Kew’s history, the role had only gone to eminent botanists,” he says. “And then I turned up.” Deverell was born in Southampton into a family he describes as “the very definition of normal”, and was a bright boy in an average school, where he was so bored his mischief almost got…

In brief Name Hof aan de Buxusbeemden. What Private topiary garden. Where Herentals, Belgium. Size Seven and a half acres of land in total, over half of which is garden. Soil Sandy, dry, pH neutral. Climate Temperate maritime, but very cold and windy. Hardiness rating USDA 8a. Standing on the terrace in front of the house, it is hard to decide which part of Francis and Ann’s garden you should explore first. Should you go straight ahead, where a central axis of the garden stretches towards the horizon, or left, where two long, rectangular ponds lead to an opening in the hedge giving a glimpse of the surrounding fields? Both choices are tempting. Those two axes form the backbones of this impressive garden near Antwerp. It is a very structured…

• The London College of Garden Design has launched a new annual six-month course for those who want to expand their skills and expertise in planting design. The Planting Design Certificate will be led by garden designer Andrew Fisher Tomlin and held in the Orangery at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The course starts in January 2016. lcgd.org.uk • Find inspiration for planting shrubs and trees at the nine-acre woodland garden attached to BlueBell Nursery. The Derbyshire tree and shrub specialist, will open its garden near Ashby de la Zouch for the NGS on 22 November. ngs.org.uk • RHS Rosemoor’s winter sculpture exhibition starts on 21 November with an interesting mix of exhibits spread throughout the garden. Free guided sculpture walks leave the Visitor Centre on most Wednesdays at 11.30am. rhs.org.uk/gardens/Rosemoor/ •…

THE GARDENS OF ARNE MAYNARD By Arne Maynard, foreword by Rosie Atkins An indulgent combination of glorious photography and inspiring text, presenting 12 of Arne Maynard’s greatest gardens. Reviewer Jodie Jones is a garden writer. ‘My very earliest memories are of gardening ’ writes Arne Maynard in the introduction to his sumptuous new book. ‘My early passion was definitely for horticulture over design, and this deep love of the act of gardening has never abated’ His enthusiasm for both the art and the craft of gardening illuminates every page of this inspiring book, as he describes in fascinating detail the creation of 12 exceptional gardens. They range in style from an 18th-century mill in Wiltshire to a contemporary beach house in East Hampton, New York state, and include Arne’s former…

1 BRITISH BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION Give the gift of armchair beekeeping, and help save the honey bee. Receive a delightful welcome pack of bee goodies from the British Beekeepers Association and three award-winning newsletters with a year’s subscription to Adopt a Beehive for £30 plus p&p. Tel 0845 680 7038 Web adoptabeehive.co.uk 2 BACKDOORSHOES Looking for the perfect gift for garden lovers? Backdoorshoes® has the answer. Lightweight, durable, waterproof garden shoes. There are a variety of unique designs for both men, ladies and children available including worms, butterflies, tulips or mulchwood. A shoe choice for everyone! Sizes range from UK 11-3 for children £15 a pair and UK 3-13 for adults £20 a pair. Web backdoorshoes.co.uk 3 LEANDER PLANT SUPPORTS Leander’s beautiful plant supports in rusted iron make wonderful, original presents…